Aberdeen homeless camp down to 22 residents, city looks at shrinking its footprint

Located behind City Hall

By Dan Hammock • September 11, 2020 3:45 pm
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The homeless camp north of Aberdeen City Hall, built to hold 70, currently holds 22. The city is looking to shrink the footprint of the camp, but it is likely it will stay in operation through the winter months.
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD The homeless camp north of Aberdeen City Hall, built to hold 70, currently holds 22. The city is looking to shrink the footprint of the camp, but it is likely it will stay in operation through the winter months.

The number of people living at the city-sanctioned and paid for homeless camp behind City Hall has dwindled steadily the past few months.

“We are at 22 individuals,” said city Community Development Director Lisa Scott. The camp was designed to hold up to about 70.

Scott told the Aberdeen City Council this week that her department has spent a lot of time looking at the camp recently, which the city has had to keep open because its closure would violate Gov. Jay Inslee’s “no eviction” order brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic.

“We are not accepting any new individuals and as individuals leave — because they found housing or for whatever reason — we have been clearing out the shelters and removing them,” said Scott. “We have not kicked anyone out of (the camp) since the no eviction order was put in place.”

The no eviction order was recently extended to Oct. 15. When the city tried to shut down the camp in May, citing the expense — about $35,000 monthly — to the city as a driving factor, the state Attorney General’s Office told the city closure would violate the order.

As far as the camp’s immediate future, Mayor Pete Schave said he wouldn’t be surprised to see the Governor’s no eviction order extended. Regardless, with fall and winter weather coming, he said the camp will more than likely stay in operation through the bad winter months to provide shelter from the elements for those who don’t have more permanent housing options.

Because of the low number of residents, the city is considering shrinking the size of the camp, located in a city staff parking lot on the north side of City Hall.

“We are looking to reduce the footprint (of the camp), so we’re working logistically with that right now and as soon as we have an accepted plan we will move that forward,” said Scott.

There is still security on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Scott. Providing security is the main operational expense for the camp. The site also has a hand washing station and a hose for water, and there is a dumpster and five portable toilets for those residing in the camp.

“The no visiting rule is still in effect due to concerns over COVID,” said Scott.